Household heating system



March 13, 1951 w. s. PEPER 2,545,107

HOUSEHOLD HEATING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 13, 1946 Z5 INVENTOR W221 fie! 5'. Pepe,"

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 13, 1951 v UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE Application August 13, 1946, Serial No. 690,229

6 Claims. (01. 237-78) The present invention relates to household heating systems and it particularly relates to air release means for said systems.

Most household heating systems are not of high efficiency or they require excessive fuel con- .sumption particularly during extremely cold weather due to air entrapment which greatly reduces the available radiation surface.

It has not been readily possible to correct for such entrapment in the ordinary household system quickly and without at the same time permitting steam or hot water to escape into the room and it is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive durable limitation, since various changes therein may be I made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invenion.

It is a particular feature of the present invention to provide a thermostatically operated valve device, on a radiator, standpipe or section of piping in a position requiring quick air relief, preferably provided with a heat responsive Sylphon which will permit escape of air, but substantially prevent escape of steam and hot water vapor from a domestic heating system. Desirably the device is provided with a valve chamber directly connected with the piping or radiator system while there is also provided a splash or breather chamber connected with the valve chamber acting as a breather and preventing escape of moisture.

In the drawings which show one embodiment of the invention by way of illustration and not by way of limitation,

Fig. 1 is a top perspective view slightly less than full size of the control valve device of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is aside vertical sectional view upon an enlarged scale as compared to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevational vie upon a. reduced scale illustrating attachment of the control valve device to the top point of a heat radiator forming part of a household, office or factory heating system. i

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view upon a reduced scale similar to Fig. 3 showing the control relief device attached to a standpipe,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top perspective view upon a reduced scale similar to Fig. 3 showing the control relief device attached to a junction and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical side sectional view upon a reduced scale as compared to Fig. 2 of the bottom of an alternative control relief device.

In the drawings, the radiator A may have a plurality of heat radiating fins or compartment l0. To the end fin H at the top l2 thereof is attached the control valve device B. The control valve device B (see Fig. 2) has a valve chamber C and a top or breather chamber D. The valve chamber C is provided with the thermostatic device or heat responsive bellows E, known in the trade as a Sylphon and the self-centering valve element F.

The valve chamber C has a cup-shaped base |3 receiving the upper inverted cup-shaped cover element |4 telescoped thereinto at l5 and soldered in position at It, as for example by silver solder. The side of the base l3 receives the threaded nipple shouldered at |8 to abut the exterior of the cup I3 and soldered in position at H). The nipple ll receives the short length of pipe 20 which at its other end is threaded at 2| to be screwed into a tapped recess at the top of the radiator standpipe or supply pipe A.

The base of the cup I3 is provided with a central opening 22 which receives the threaded nipple 23 having the abutment shoulder 24. The nipple 23 is held in place by the soldering 25. The base 32 of the nipple 23 is recessed at 33 to receive the disk 34 soldered in position at 35.

The threaded nipple 26 of the Sylphon E is screwed into the tapped opening 21 of the nipple 23. Attached to the threaded nipple 23 is the contractible and expandible bellows 28, which carries the conical self-centering valve 29. As indicated by the dot and dash lines the valve 29 is seated against the valve seat 3|] in the nipple 3| upon expansion of the bellows 28.

The nipple 3| is shouldered at 36 to abut the base of the dome 31 in the roof or top 38 of the shell I 4. It is also shouldered at 39 to abut the dome 40 in the base 4| of the top chamber D. The intermediate portion or reduced diameter section 42 of the nipple 3| extends through the opening 43 in thedome 31 and through the gasket 44 clamped between the domes 31 and 40. The

:soldered into position at 5?.

nipple Si is held in position by the soldering 46 in the top of the dome 31.

The threaded portion 4'! extends through the opening 48 in the dome 40 and through the washer 49 and its upper end is engaged by the nut 50 which clamps the domes 37 and 48 and the gasket 44 and washer 49 together.

The top or breather chamber D is provided with a base shell 5| having the stop shoulder 52 receiving the screen 53. The top she'll-.54 telescopes into the base shell 51 and holds thescreen53 in position on the shoulder 52. The shell has a conical upwardly converging portion 55 receiving the outlet ports or breather openings .56. The shells 5| and 54 are soldered together at '51.

In assemblage, the nipples IT and .23 are 5.01- dered to the shell l3. Then the nipple ,26 of the Sylphon E is threaded into position into the nipple 23 and the disk or bushing plug .34 insorted and soldered into position at 35. Then we nipple :31 is applied .to the top shell 14 and soldered into ositionatdil. The top shell is then applied to the :bottom shell .13 and soldered into position at Hi.

The "gasket '44 is then applied to the nipple3l, followed by the-bottom shell 5 l the washerjfl and the nut 50. The screen 53 is placed in the shoulder 52., and the top shell 54 inserted .and The assemblage is then complete.

The device B may then be sold to householders with the pipe or tube .28 :threaded into the nipple El l ready for attachment to radiators, stand pipes or supply lines A. For exampl 2-to ,of the devicesBare quitesatisfactorywfor a sixzroom house and will greatly increase the efficiency .and economy ofithe :heating system.

:InFig. 4 is showna reliefdevice B attached to a stand pipe H adjacent the upper .end Hi thereof.

In Fig. 5 is shown a relief device B attaohedito pipe H2, adjacent the junction H3 of the tubes orrpipes-HZ, 133,115.21116. l-20,:the;arrows H6, H7, H8 and I Hi indicating the direction of flow.

In Fig.;6,:the:ni.pp1es I] -and;23 are combined, :correspondingly functioning parts being'indicated :by the same letters provided with a..superior .2. The a ipe opens into the zchamber ill! which communicates with the interior of the device by passageways 510i! and .39.

By making the :nipple '21- -and the nipple H ,in one piece, .assshown in Fig. 6, the closur disk 34 may be eliminated and there will be provided a bottom inlet and return which is useful with the flat type Modine type radiator which .is positioned close to the floor andina covered-recess in the wall. Even in the construction of Fig.2, the diski'l'il may be made in one piece with {the nipple 23.

In operation, when 'theheating system is cold :and large amounts :of air are entrappedathigh points thereof, the applicationof :hotfluid to the lower part of the system will expel air from :the top of the radiator, stand pipe :orgsupplyglines A through the tube 2.0, the chamber C, the X1011- necting passage 58, the chamber .53 .and :out through the openings 5B :as indicated by the arrows 59, 60 andBi.

When steam or hot water vapor reaches the device B, the bellows :28 willexpand pressing :the .self'centering valve .29 against its ;tapered seat:30 preventing escape .ofistcamandhot .vater vapor. Any small amount of steam which passes :the valve 29 will condense in the interior-walls of the chamber :3 as 3 indicated .-.at 152 and @drip {back into the channel 63 formed at the bottom of the chamber D. Any excess water which accumulates in the chamber D will flow back into valve chamber C through the passage 58 and then through the tube 20 back into the radiator A as the steam recedes and the bellows E contracts or will evaporate from the channel 63. The screen 53 will break up any droplets which may be ejected past the valve 29 and will also break up the air and steam jet.

The shells 13., .l l, 5| .and 54 may be of brass of .030 to .040 inch in thickness while the screen .53 may range from 60 to mesh and is preferably 80.mesh. The solder used throughout may be silver solder. The valve 29 is self-centering in the seat 30. The washer 44 may be of plastic composition known as Vellumoid. The outside dimensions of the entire assemblage may carry from 3-to 4 inches in height and 1 to 2 inches in diameter.

Although the invention has been described in its application to household heating systems, it may also be used in .ofiice buildings, factories, storage lofts and so forth.

The relief unit .13 as above described is particularly useful in household, office, factory ,or

Ilolt fluid .heatingsystems, particularly using oil fired boilers, where the heat application ,to the boiler is intermittent and ,controlLd by a thermostat. Incidental to such intermittent operation, the system will not be continuously filled with steam. .As condensation takesplaceairreplaces the steam particularly inhigh points of thesystem. When steam is again generated an iorcedinto ,the system, the umtB assures quick vrelease of theair, the system filling quickly with st-am. The heat transmission from 5the boiler to the rooms will become immediately effective by steam condensation in the radiators. The units should preferably be placed atcold points ,in the houseor enclosure, asiorexamplein upper story north rooms and in :places such -.as bathrooms which are to be kept comfortably Warinat all times. There will be a more effective heat balance throughout the house :or enclosure .resulting in more .efiicient and economical operation.

As many changes could be made in the above heating system and many -apparentl y widely different embodiments of this iIlVfiIItiOn could .be ;made:without departing from the scope of :the claims, it is intended that all matter lcongtained in the above description, or shown in ;the accompanying (drawings, :shall be interpreted as .illustrativ and snotin a limiting sense.

Whatis claimed is:

1. In a fluid heating system, an air .vent de vice comprising a lower casing provided :with a thermostatically controlled valve and an upper .casing inlconimunication with said lower casing :serving as a'breather casing and means to :connect said lower casing to said system, said cas- .ings ibeing formedoi' intortelescopingcupeshaped .shells soldered together, said upper and lower casings being of substantially the same diameter .and same he;ght and;said upper casing :being provided with a fine "mesh screen extending transversely across said upper casing midway .of :th hcightzthereoi and .anelongated threaded nipple connecting-the upper .casing in fiuid-tight manner to the lower casing and aesllahlifihing ,:communication .therebetween, the llottom .:0.f athe uppe casing being-d med .upwardlyand t et p 2. In a fluid heating system, an air vent device comprising a lower casing provided with a thermostatically controlled valve and an upper casing in communication with said lower casing serving as a breather casing and means to connect said lower casing to said system, said upper casing being provided with a conical section having breather openings adjacent the top thereof, said upper and lower casings being of substantially the same diameter and same height and said upper casing being provided with a fine mesh screen extending transversely across said upper casing midway of the height thereof and an elongated threaded nipple connecting the upper casing in fluid-tightmanner to the lower casing and establishing communication therebetween, the bottom of the upper casing being domed upwardly and the top of the lower casing being also domed upwardly to conform to the bottom of said upper casing.

3. In a fluid heating system, an air vent device comprising a lower casing provided with a thermostatically controlled valve and an upper casing in communication with said lower casing serving as a breather casing and means to connect said lower casing to said system, said upper casing having at its lower periphery a condensate evaporating channel, said upper and lower casings being of substantially the same diameter and same height and said upper casing being provided with a fine mesh screen extending transversely across said upper casing midway of the height thereof and an elongated threaded nipple connecting the upper casing in fluid-tight manner to the lower casing and establishing communioation therebetween, the bottom of the upper casing being domed upwardly and the top of the lower casing being also domed upwardly to conform to the bottom of said upper casing.

4. In a fluid heating system, an air vent device comprising a lower casing provided with a thermostatically controlled valve and an upper casing in communication with said lower casing serving as a breather casing and means to con nect said lower casing to said system, said lower casing having a single nipple at the bottom thereof to mount the thermostat and afford a connection to and from the system, said upper and lower casings being of substantially the same diameter and same height and said upper casing being provided with a fine mesh screen extending transversely across said upper casing midway of the height thereof and an elongated threaded nipple connecting the upper casing in fluid-tight manner to the lower casing and establishing communication therebetween, the bottom of the upper casing being domed upwardly and the top of the lower casing being also domed upwardly to conform to the bottom of said upper casing.

5. An air release device for a household heating system comprising a lower cylindrical casing and an upper cylindrical casing, both of approximately the same diameter and height, a central connecting threaded nipple sealing the casings together and serving as means of fluid connection therebetween, said nipple projecting substantially upwardly into the upper casing and downwardly into the lower casing, openings at the top of the upper casing to permit escape of air and at the bottom of the lower casing to permit ingress of steam and air and to mount a thermostatic bellows device, a valve carried by said bellows device, the lower end of said nipple serving as a valve seat for said valve and screen means extending across the upper chamber substantially above said nipple and substantially below said openings, said upper and lower casing consisting of telescoping shells.

6. In a household heating system, an air release device to be mounted on the upper part of said system comprising a vertically elongated cylindrical device having a horizontal partition substantially in the middle thereof with a small central passage therethrough, said device being formed of an upper thin sheet metal casing and a lower thin sheet metal casing, each of said casings having upper and lower shells telescoped together and the lower shell of the upper casing and upper shell of the lower casing being domed upwardly and being bolted together by a central threaded nipple carrying a gasket located between the casings and a nut screwed on said threaded nipple in the upper casing, a horizontal metal screen clamped between the upper and lower shells of the upper casing and an expandible and contractible bellows in the lower shell of the lower casing, said lower shell of said lower casing having a threaded nipple in the bottom thereof and said bellows having a threaded lower extension screwed onto said threaded nipple, said lower shell of the lower casing having a nipple connection to the system and the upper shell of the upper casing having openings at the top thereof to the atmosphere.

WALTER S. PEPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,014,229 Kelsey Jan. 9, 1912 1,247,375 Clark et a1 Nov. 20, 191"] 1,869,282 Schwartz July 25, 1932 1,912,867 Thibodeau June 6, 1933 2,163,909 Lasher et a1. June 27, 1939 2,340,220 Hedfield Jan. 25, 1944 

